were imported. The elay for the pata came from England; the quartz
whioh they used came from Gottenhurg; I do not know where they
got their alkali, hut it was not the produce of the place. The only
advantages which this manufactory possessed, were plenty o f wood
for fuel, and water carriage to Gottenburg. Their mode of making
their panes is different from that practised in Britain and France, and
is much slower; but on the other hand, they are more beautiful.
They blow the glass ¡«to very large cylindrical jars, open at one end
and shut at the other, exactly like the glass jam for air-holders used by
chemists, They cut the top off each o f these jars by means o f a hot
iron or piece o f hot wood, and likewise slit it as neatly as possible
from one end to the other. Thes? cylinders are then rolled out flat
upon a red hot metal plate; the consequence o f which is that they are
smoother than our panes, objects are seen through them in their true
places, so that they have all the advantage o f mirror-glass, without
being so high priced. Our gentlemen of high fortune, who used to
glaze their windows with Bohemian mirror-glass, might at present,
when that glass cannot be procured, substitute Swedish window-glass
for it. I f seeing objects through their windows in their true position and
shape be their only object, it would answer their purpose perfectly.
The second evening we stopped all night at Hofva, which deserves
to be mentioned particularly, as it was the worst house I lodged in
during the whole time I was in Sweden. We were literally obliged
to sup on dry bread. For this meagre fare, and for our beds, we were
charged four shillings sterling: no great sum for three persons, but
enough in all conscience for the entertainment we met with.
As next morning before breakfast we had passed the hounds of West
Gothland, I shall here terminate this chapter. Observing only that as
I passed through Marieatadt, a small town upon the lake V etmer, built
by Charles IX,, without stopping in it, I had no. opportunity o f making
any observations. The country being all composed of alluvial sand,
it was not in fact entitled to much attention from a mineralogist.